
Overview
Background
Dr Jenny Fung is a Senior Research Officer at the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS), where she investigates the genetic and immune mechanisms underlying complex diseases. Her research combines molecular biology, genomics, computational analysis, and both ex-vivo and in-vivo models, with a focus on translating discoveries to benefit patients.
Dr Fung completed her PhD in Endocrinology at UQ and conducted postdoctoral research at QIMR Berghofer and The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, uncovering key molecular mechanisms driving endometriosis. In 2019, she joined Professor Trent Woodruff’s laboratory, expanding her work to neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disease (MND), Huntington’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia. She has contributed her expertise in high-throughput proteomics to a Phase Ib clinical trial in MND and is actively involved in patient-focused projects, including identifying immune and molecular biomarkers in longitudinal patient cohorts and evaluating therapeutic targets in patient-derived cells.
She has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, PNAS, and Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Dr Fung is passionate about connecting laboratory discoveries with clinical impact and co-leads projects integrating genetics, immunology, and patient-focused research to develop new strategies for treating complex diseases.
Availability
- Dr Jenny Fung is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Jenny Fung’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
IL-6 trans-signalling is elevated in ALS models and drives TDP-43 induced inflammatory responses in microglia
Risby-Jones, Grace, Marallag, Jianina, Jagaraj, Cyril Jones, Atkin, Julie D., Walker, Adam K., Woodruff, Trent M., Lee, John D. and Fung, Jenny N. (2025). IL-6 trans-signalling is elevated in ALS models and drives TDP-43 induced inflammatory responses in microglia. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 129, 296-304. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2025.06.021
2025
Journal Article
Investigating complement receptor C3aR1 signalling in metabolic dysfunction in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington’s disease
Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, McDonald, Tanya, Cui, Cedric, Fung, Jenny, Woodruff, Trent and Lee, John (2025). Investigating complement receptor C3aR1 signalling in metabolic dysfunction in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington’s disease. Immunobiology, 230 (4) 153064, 61-62. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153064
2025
Conference Publication
Development of novel peptide ligands with improved selectivity and pharmacological properties for complement system receptors
Clark, Richard, Dent, Joshua, Gorman, Declan, Li, Xaria, Wu, Xiaosa, Cui, Cedric, Fung, Jenny, Lee, John, Rosengren, Johan and Woodruff, Trent (2025). Development of novel peptide ligands with improved selectivity and pharmacological properties for complement system receptors. 30th International Complement Workshop 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 14-19 September 2025. Munich, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153001
2025
Journal Article
Targeting C5a inflammation in ALS: Ex vivo findings from PMX205 phase Ib trial
Fung, Jenny, Lee, John and Woodruff, Trent (2025). Targeting C5a inflammation in ALS: Ex vivo findings from PMX205 phase Ib trial. Immunobiology, 230 (4) 153003, 35-35. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153003
2025
Journal Article
Genetic variants in complement-related genes: potential implications for cancer risk and progression
Fung, Jenny N. and Pio, Ruben (2025). Genetic variants in complement-related genes: potential implications for cancer risk and progression. Immunobiology, 230 (4) 153100. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153100
2025
Conference Publication
Investigating complement receptor C3aR1 signalling in metabolic dysfunction in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease
Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, McDonald, Tanya, Cui, Cedric, Fung, Jenny, Woodruff, Trent and Lee, John (2025). Investigating complement receptor C3aR1 signalling in metabolic dysfunction in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease. 30th International Complement Workshop - ICW2025, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14-19 September 2025. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153064
2025
Conference Publication
Investigating the role of neuronally-expressed C5aR1 in motor neuron disease
Risby-Jones, Grace, Woodruff, Trent M., Fung, Jenny N. and Lee, John D. (2025). Investigating the role of neuronally-expressed C5aR1 in motor neuron disease. 30th International Complement Workshop - ICW2025, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14-19 September 2025. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153079
2025
Conference Publication
Complement C3a receptor signalling mitigates motor neuron degeneration by modulating neurotoxic astrocytes
Julianisya, Alana R., Fung, Jenny N.T., Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2025). Complement C3a receptor signalling mitigates motor neuron degeneration by modulating neurotoxic astrocytes. 30th International Complement Workshop - ICW2025, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14-19 September 2025. Muenchen, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153081
2025
Conference Publication
A detrimental role for complement C5aR1 activation in Huntington’s disease
Marallag, Jianina, Fung, Jenny, Lee, John and Woodruff, Trent (2025). A detrimental role for complement C5aR1 activation in Huntington’s disease. 30th International Complement Workshop 2025, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 14-19 September 2025. Munich, Germany: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153080
2025
Journal Article
Complement membrane attack complex alters the proliferation of neural progenitor cells during late embryonic murine neurogenesis
Read, Austin, Lee, John, Fung, Jenny and Woodruff, Trent (2025). Complement membrane attack complex alters the proliferation of neural progenitor cells during late embryonic murine neurogenesis. Immunobiology, 230 (4) 153063, 61-61. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2025.153063
2025
Conference Publication
Concurrent spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics map differential effects of drug across brain cancer tissues
Vo, Tuan, Cui, Cedric, Causer, Andrew, Tan, Xiao, Kim, Eunju, Xiong, Zherui, Vu, Hani, Hodson, Mark, Lu, Tianyao, Freytag, Saskia, Fung, Jenny, Lee, John and Nguyen, Quan (2025). Concurrent spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics map differential effects of drug across brain cancer tissues. AACR Annual Meeting 2025, 25-30 April 2025, Chicago, IL USA. Washington, DC USA: American Association for Cancer Research. doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2025-5067
2025
Journal Article
Peripheral and central elevation of IL-8 in patients with Huntington’s disease
Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Adam, Robert, O’Sullivan, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2025). Peripheral and central elevation of IL-8 in patients with Huntington’s disease. Molecular Immunology, 179, 84-93. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2025.02.003
2024
Conference Publication
Development of novel peptide ligands with improved selectivity and pharmacological properties for complement system receptors
Clark, Richard, Gorman, Declan, Li, Xaria, Dent, Joshua, Cui, Cedric, Lee, Han Siean, Fung, Jenny, Lee, John, Rosengren, K. Johan and Woodruff, Trent (2024). Development of novel peptide ligands with improved selectivity and pharmacological properties for complement system receptors. 37th European Peptide Symposium 14th International Peptide Symposium, Florence, Italy, 25-29 August 2024. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.
2024
Journal Article
Sex differences in Huntington's disease from a neuroinflammation perspective
Risby-Jones, Grace, Lee, John D., Woodruff, Trent M. and Fung, Jenny N. (2024). Sex differences in Huntington's disease from a neuroinflammation perspective. Frontiers in Neurology, 15 1384480, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1384480
2024
Journal Article
Complement C5a receptor signaling alters stress responsiveness and modulates microglia following chronic stress exposure
Chen, Hsiao-Jou Cortina, Spiers, Jereme G., Lerskiatiphanich, Titaya, Parker, Sandra E., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Fung, Jenny N., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2024). Complement C5a receptor signaling alters stress responsiveness and modulates microglia following chronic stress exposure. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, 4 (3) 100306, 100306. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100306
2024
Journal Article
Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing
Li, Xaria X., Fung, Jenny N., Clark, Richard J., Lee, John D. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2024). Cell-intrinsic C5a synergizes with Dectin-1 in macrophages to mediate fungal killing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (5) e2314627121, 1-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2314627121
2023
Journal Article
A molecular staging model for accurately dating the endometrial biopsy
Teh, W. T., Chung, J., Holdsworth-Carson, S. J., Donoghue, J. F., Healey, M., Rees, H. C., Bittinger, S., Obers, V., Sloggett, C., Kendarsari, R., Fung, J. N., Mortlock, S., Montgomery, G. W., Girling, J. E. and Rogers, P. A. W. (2023). A molecular staging model for accurately dating the endometrial biopsy. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 6222, 6222. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41979-z
2023
Journal Article
The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions
Rahmioglu, Nilufer, Mortlock, Sally, Ghiasi, Marzieh, Møller, Peter L., Stefansdottir, Lilja, Galarneau, Geneviève, Turman, Constance, Danning, Rebecca, Law, Matthew H., Sapkota, Yadav, Christofidou, Paraskevi, Skarp, Sini, Giri, Ayush, Banasik, Karina, Krassowski, Michal, Lepamets, Maarja, Marciniak, Błażej, Nõukas, Margit, Perro, Danielle, Sliz, Eeva, Sobalska-Kwapis, Marta, Thorleifsson, Gudmar, Topbas-Selcuki, Nura F., Vitonis, Allison, Westergaard, David, Arnadottir, Ragnheidur, Burgdorf, Kristoffer S., Campbell, Archie, Cheuk, Cecilia S. K. ... The 23andMe Research Team (2023). The genetic basis of endometriosis and comorbidity with other pain and inflammatory conditions. Nature Genetics, 55 (3), 423-436. doi: 10.1038/s41588-023-01323-z
2023
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (7), 2878-2893. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0
2022
Book Chapter
Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s
Lee, John D., Lo, Martin W., Fung, Jenny N. T. and Woodruff, Trent M. (2022). Neuroinflammation in Huntington’s. Neurodegenerative Diseases Biomarkers. (pp. 215-233) edited by Philip V. Peplow, Bridget Martinez and Thomas A. Gennarelli. New York, NY, United States: Springer US. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1712-0_9
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jenny Fung is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The potential role of CXCR2 activation in motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
The role of neuronal complement activation in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr John Lee
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neutrophils in Motor Neuron Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Professor Pamela McCombe, Dr John Lee, Dr Cedric Cui
-
Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling the Role of Astrocytes in Motor Neuron Disease to discover new therapeutic targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Trent Woodruff, Dr John Lee
Media
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